Outbound student opportunities

The Office for Global Health provides opportunities for students to develop their understanding of global health issues within the Sydney Medical Program. Many students choose to organise their own international experiences. However, the placements on this website are faculty-developed and considered to be an important part of the student mobility component of our key partnerships.

International experiences for students in the Sydney Medical Program

Students in the Sydney Medical Program (SMP) are required to complete an Elective Term in Stage 3 of their studies and those in Stages 1 and 2 can undertake an optional extra-mural during the year-end break. Many students choose to complete this overseas, arranging a placement that suits their interests. The Sydney Medical School's Office for Global Health (OGH) encourages our students to be an important part of our key relationships and as such has established an international placement program with many of our international partners. These consist of a 48 week clinical or research placement during the fixed elective term and must be applied for according to the process outlined on this website.

Students participating in this program will be asked to contribute to building our relationship with the relevant host institution and may be required to provide reports, give presentations or become involved in relevant projects. In addition, you will be encouraged to liaise with students visiting Sydney Medical School under reciprocal arrangements.

Blackboard has detailed policies and procedures concerning the elective term and all students must meet the faculty requirements. Please plan ahead and participate actively in the activities of the OGH and the student group GlobalHOME to learn more about available opportunities.

NB: Outside these OGH placements, the SMP also has special arrangements allowing international students to undertake some of their training in their home country. International students should consult the SMP website or Blackboard about these flexible study arrangements. It is possible for international students to be successful in gaining an OGH placement which happens to coincide with their home country, but this cannot be guaranteed. All student applications are treated equally for the OGH placements and are assessed on the criteria outlined on this website (which does not include nationality).

OS-HELP is a loan available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place who want to undertake some of their study overseas. OS-HELP can be used for a range of expenses such as airfares, accommodation, and other travel or study expenses. Applications are not accepted earlier than 3 months from the start date of your placement. See OS-HELP loans for further information.

Students applying for OGH placements should only do so if they are confident of self-funding. Scholarships and OS-HELP loans should be viewed as potential additional sources of funding – not the primary source.

The Pacific Bridge Initiative – International Students Stage 3

The Pacific Bridge Initiative was set up to allow Sydney Medical School international students to complete a Core Block of study overseas in their country of origin (or country in their region of origin) in their final year of medicine. International students, who have not done a community or other specialty block overseas, can apply to complete a Stage 3, Year 4 Core Block of study in either 4 or 8 weeks of medicine, 4 weeks of surgery, or 4 weeks of emergency medicine. Overseas rotations are usually self-organised and need to go through an application and approval process.

Sydney Medical School has an agreement with the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine for a bilateral student clinical placement exchange. This allows for 6 exchange students to complete a 4-week Core Block placement between April and August. This is a competitive process and all eligible students in Year 3 will be notified of the procedure mid-year.

For information on how to apply or if you have any questions email pacificbridgeadmin[at]sydney.edu.au